askchapo

disclaimer: I am merely adequate at chess

Usual recommendation goes something like this:

• early game is basically solved and tedious to learn first so don't worry about it yet. Maybe learn like the first 5 moves in a handful of popular openings if you're paralysed by indecision.

• Midgame is too complex to understand for a beginner. Instead learn the broad fundamental principles and try to develop a sense for judging which positions are better. Stuff like whether the board is open or closed and what pieces have more value in those situations, why the centre is good to have control over, how to develope pieces and avoid common traps.

• you cannot win reliably if you don't understand end game. End game is also the simplest as it involves the fewest pieces. Begin your learning studying end game puzzles, you will learn fundamental techniques like forking, recognising what pieces a player needs in order to check mate and what positions are stalemates, how to force moves. This will strengthen your late midgame ( you know what trades to take, what pieces you must keep in your situation), and help you avoid frustrating drawn out cat and mouse games.

After learning the very basics you also should just play chess. After all don't forget it's supposed to be about a fun game and the less you expect yourself to be good the less anxiety you'll face playing matches. Get used to the feeling of playing against people, don't overanalyse your early matches. Just play many games, lose most, learn new tricks and where you're weakest.

Eventually you'll start feeling like you need to learn openings to improve, you should do that then.